Application installation system

ABSTRACT

A method, system and computer program product for controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal is disclosed. In one aspect, a catalog server identifies a first and a second installation control setting corresponding to a first and a second application on the basis of user identification data from a data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and their corresponding installation control settings. Subsequently, the catalog server determines installation control data for at least one of the first and second application on the basis of the first and the second installation control setting. The determined installation control data is transmitted to the user terminal for controlling installation of at least one of the first and the second application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to the field of software applications foruser terminals and provides methods, systems and computer programproducts for controlling the installation of applications on suchterminals.

2. Description of the Related Technology

Application distribution systems may facilitate the distribution ofsoftware applications to user terminals. A user may connect to anapplication portal, such as the Apple® App Store™ or Android™Marketplace, via their user terminal, whereupon they are presented witha selection of applications available for download and installation.Entitlement to applications may be determined on the basis of whetherthe user associated with the user terminal has paid for the givenapplication (if necessary). Thus a given user's entitlement to accessand download applications is determined on the basis of whether fundshave been received for the application. This mechanism does not permitparties such as application providers to control provisioning ofapplications.

In addition to application provisioning to individual user devices,Application distribution systems may also facilitate bulk distributionof applications. For example, the Apple® B2B App Store™ provides anumber of redemption codes for use by individual user devices indownloading of a corresponding application. However, management ofredemption codes is cumbersome and error prone.

Enterprises may also maintain their own application distribution systemsfor distributing applications to user devices connected thereto, inwhich entitlement to applications is determined on the basis ofenterprise provided user or device authentication credentials. However,maintaining enterprise specific application distribution systems iscostly. In addition, such enterprise specific application distributionsystems may not be compatible with certain devices, such as iPhone®,whose manufacturer insists on controlling application provisioning viatheir own application distribution systems.

Application distribution systems additionally do not have any mechanismsof managing the persistence of distributed applications, and, as aconsequence, enterprises are unable to reuse licenses.

It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide improved methodsfor controlling the access to applications on user terminals.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, there is provided a methodfor controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal, onthe basis of user identification data for a user associated with saiduser terminal, according to the appended claims. Some additionalfeatures are set out in the dependent claims.

In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for controllingthe installation of applications on a user terminal, on the basis ofuser identification data for a user associated with said user terminal,the method comprising:

accessing a data store, said data store comprising entries for aplurality of applications and corresponding installation controlsettings associated with said plurality of applications;

identifying, on the basis of said user identification data, at least afirst installation control setting for a first of said plurality ofapplications;

identifying, on the basis of said user identification data, at least asecond installation control setting for a second of said plurality ofapplications;

determining installation control data for at least one of said first andsecond applications on the basis of at least said first installationcontrol setting and at least said second installation control setting;and

transmitting an installation control message to control installation ofat least one of said first and second applications on said userterminal, said installation control message comprising said installationcontrol data.

In a first arrangement, the first and second installation controlsettings are associated with the same application and the determinedinstallation control data relates to installation of this sameapplication. An advantage of this exemplary embodiment for thisarrangement is that a plurality of different installation controlsettings can be taken into account when determining the installationcontrol data for a particular user, in relation to a particularapplication, thereby potentially allowing a number of sources toinfluence the determination of the installation control data throughindependent control of the various installation control settings.

For example, entities such as an application developer, enterprisenetwork, equipment manufacturer, wireless services provider, etc, mayinfluence the installation of applications on user devices by specifyinginstallation control settings for the particular application, and thesedifferent installation control settings collectively determine theinstallation control data for the particular application. This providesan advantage over conventional mechanisms, where installation controlcan only be exercised by means of a redemption code or by provisioningapplications from an enterprise specific application distributionsystem.

Further, since installation control settings can be controlledindependently of application provisioning, this embodiment enablesinstallation control after application provisioning.

In a second arrangement, the first and second applications are differentand installation control data is therefore generated for one of thefirst and second applications on the basis of an installation controlsetting associated with the other of the first and second applications;in this example the installation control data takes account of therespective control settings and can prevent installation of incompatibleapplications. For example, the installation control data can begenerated on the basis of presence of a control settings correspondingto an application that has already been installed on the device (aso-called “pre-existing application”). This embodiment is particularlyuseful when applications that are available for download originate froma disparate source of software applications, such as the aforementionedlist comprising application developer, enterprise network, and where thedevice is shipped with various pre-existing applications in accordancewith installation of the equipment manufacturer.

Advantageously, the first installation control setting may be associatedwith a first plurality of users, each of the first plurality of usershaving a common grouping characteristic. The second installation controlsetting may be associated with a second plurality of users, at leastsome of which are different to the first plurality of users, each of thesecond plurality of users having a second common groupingcharacteristic, different to the first common grouping characteristic.Hence, the installation control settings may be configured for multipleusers simultaneously, based on some shared grouping characteristics,such as enterprise associated therewith or users of a given application,and different grouping characteristics may be applied. An applicationprovider may control their installation control setting whereby to allowinstallation of an application on user devices associated with anenterprise network, who may subsequently control their installationcontrol setting to allow installation of the application on all or someuser devices associated therewith, thereby enabling efficientapplication bulk distribution.

In a further arrangement, the determination of installation control datacomprises selecting between at least the first installation controlsetting and the second installation control setting according to one ormore predetermined selection criteria. The one or more predeterminedselection criteria may have the effect of one of the installationcontrol settings being selected in preference one or more otherinstallation control settings.

Advantageously, the one or more predetermined selection criteria maytend to select a more restrictive installation control setting. Hence ifany installation control setting seeks to restrict access to anapplication for a given user, then access may be restricted for thatuser, regardless of whether a different installation control settingwould tend to allow access to the same application for the same user.For users that belong to an enterprise, the selection criteria can bespecified by the enterprise, in which case, and irrespective of othersources of applications to which the user has subscribed, the enterprisehas ultimate control over which applications can be installed on theiruser devices.

In a yet further arrangement, available settings for the installationcontrol settings include a default setting and one or more furthersettings, wherein the determination of said installation control datacomprises selecting one of the one or more further settings inpreference to the default setting if both one of said one or morefurther settings and the default setting are present in the firstinstallation control setting and the second installation controlsetting. This feature is particularly well suited to instances in whichan installation control setting has not been used to set a preference tothe level of access to an application that should be afforded: in thissituation, other installation control settings may be considered inpreference.

Available settings for said installation control settings may include adefault setting and one or more further settings, wherein saiddetermination of said installation control data comprises includinginstallation control data which indicates access is to be denied to agiven application if said first installation control setting comprises adefault setting and said second installation control setting alsocomprises a default setting. In this way, it can be ensured that accessto a given application should be granted by at least one of theinstallation control settings in order for the associated user terminalto be able to install the application.

The installation control settings may include at least one of:

a setting allowing the user terminal to install an application;

a setting denying the user terminal a right to install an application;

a setting suspending access to an application if previously installed;

a setting continuing access to an application if previously installed;

a setting forcing the user terminal to install an application; and

a default installation control setting.

The installation control data may include at least one of:

a setting allowing the user terminal to install an application;

a setting denying the user terminal a right to install an application;

a setting suspending access to an application if previously installed;

a setting continuing access to an application if previously installed;

a setting forcing the user terminal to install an application; and

a default installation control setting

In response to receiving an installation request message from the userterminal requesting access to an identified application, the method maycomprise determining installation control data in relation to saididentified application, facilitating installation of said requestedapplication on said user terminal in accordance with said determinedinstallation control data. On the other hand, if a user tries to accessan application to which they are not entitled, access to, andinstallation of, that application may be denied for that user.

The method may comprise monitoring said data store for updates to saidinstallation control settings; identifying one or more updatedinstallation control settings associated with one or more of saidplurality of applications; and determining installation control data forone or more of said plurality of applications on the basis of at leastsaid one or more updated installation control settings. Hence if achange is effected in relation to an installation control setting, thecorresponding installation control data can be recalculatedautomatically.

Embodiments may provide efficient version management for applications bymeans of: maintaining a list of applications installed on said userterminal; comparing said one or more applications having updatedinstallation control settings to said list of applications installed onsaid user terminal; and transmitting an installation control updatemessage to said user terminal, said installation control update messagecomprising installation control data generated on the basis of saidcomparison. Hence, when installation control data is updated for a givenapplication, a message can be sent to any user terminal that is affectedby the change. This mitigates the need for the user terminal to poll thedata store to determine when a change to the installation control dataoccurs. Additionally, this arrangement permits a connected entity, suchas enterprise networks, to control persistence of installed applicationson user devices associated therewith.

In some embodiments, the comparison step comprises identifying, fromamong said applications having updated installation control data, one ormore applications which are listed in said list of applicationsinstalled on said user terminal. Hence a user terminal can be informedwhen the installation control data changes for an application that ithas currently installed.

In some embodiments, said installation control update message isconfigured to cause access to one or more of said identifiedapplications to be terminated on said user terminal. Hence, access to aninstalled application can be quickly prevented from running on a userterminal after an administrative control role has updated aninstallation control setting to invoke such a denial of access.

Advantageously, said comparison may comprise identifying, from amongsaid applications having updated installation control data, one or moreapplications having an updated installation control setting indicatingthat installation should be forced on said user terminal and which arenot listed on said list of applications installed by said user terminal.As a result, installation of an application can for example be quicklyforced on a user terminal after an administrative control role hasupdated an installation control setting to invoke such a forcedinstallation.

The data store may comprise entries for a plurality of versions of oneor more of said plurality of applications, and said at least a first andat least a second installation control settings comprise installationcontrol settings associated with said plurality of versions.

In some embodiments, said first installation control setting for a firstversion of an installed application is configured to deny or suspendaccess to said first version of said installed application, and saidsecond installation control setting for a second version of saidinstalled application is configured to continue, allow, or force accessto said second version of said installed application. As a result,installation control data can be configured to force a user terminal toupgrade to a second version of an application, depending on thecombination of installation control settings applied.

Advantageously, said first installation control setting for a firstversion of an installed application is configured to continue, allow orforce access to said first version of said installed application, andsaid second installation control setting for a second version of saidinstalled application is configured to deny or suspend access to saidsecond version of said installed application. Installation control datacan be configured to prevent a user terminal from upgrading to a secondversion of an application, depending on the combination of installationcontrol settings applied.

In some embodiments, said first installation control setting for a firstversion of an installed application is configured to continue, allow orforce access to said first version of said installed application, andsaid second installation control setting for a second version of saidinstalled application is configured to continue, allow or force accessto said second version of said installed application. In embodiments inwhich these two installation control settings are used for comparison,said installation control data is configured to allow a user terminal toupgrade to a second version of an application if desired, depending onthe combination of installation control settings applied.

Advantageously said first installation control setting for a firstversion of an installed application is configured to continue, allow orforce access to said first version of said installed application, andsaid second installation control setting, for a second version of saidinstalled application is configured to force installation of said secondversion of said installed application. Hence, installation control datacan be configured to force a user terminal to upgrade to a new versionof an application, depending on the combination of installation controlsettings applied.

By utilizing installation control settings associated with differentadministrative control roles, some embodiments enable the generation ofinstallation control data, derived from settings made using thedifferent administrative control roles, which governs the installationcontrol relationship between a given user and a given application.

Further exemplary embodiments described herein are concerned withproviding a server system and data store configured to interoperate soas to perform the above method, and a computer program, or a suite ofcomputer programs comprising a set of instructions, which, when executedby a server system having access to a database holding useridentification data and installation control settings corresponding todifferent applications, causes the server system to perform theforegoing method steps.

Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description of some preferredembodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which ismade with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the components of anapplication installation control system according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary catalogue data store database entriesaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of the operation of a control settingdetermination method according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary architecture for an application installationcontrol system, and various entities that can provide input thereto.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative example of two different sets ofinstallation control settings in a catalogue data store databaseaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of the operation of a suitable conflictresolution algorithm according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary catalogue data store database entriesaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates exemplary catalogue data store database entriesaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of exemplary extended functionality ofan installation control setting conflict resolution algorithm accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart of exemplary extended functionality ofan installation control setting conflict resolution algorithm accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates exemplary catalogue data store database entriesaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary catalogue data store database entriesaccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a message flow diagram illustrating an exemplary applicationdownload process according to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a message flow diagram illustrating an exemplary applicationdownload process according to some embodiments.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating the process of handlingan updated installation control setting according to some embodiments.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary message flow diagram for handling anupdated installation control setting according to some embodiments.

FIG. 17 illustrates a number of exemplary catalogue data store databaseentries according to some embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary catalogue server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments of the invention are concerned with controllinginstallation and/or persistence of applications on user devices. Morespecifically, some embodiments are concerned with enabling entitiesconnected with user devices or applications to control installation ofapplications on user devices. The processing involved in applicationprovisioning and installation thereof on user devices is described indetail below, but first an overview of a network environment withinwhich some embodiments of the invention may operate are described withreference to FIG. 1, which shows a block diagram illustrating a userterminal 100 (or user device or device) communicably connected to anapplication distribution system 102 (hereinafter referred to ascatalogue server or application installation control system).

The user terminal 100 may be a portable electronic device comprisingconventional hardware and being capable of installing softwareapplications. The user terminal may be a mobile telephony device, suchas a smartphone, a portable computer, such as a tablet computer, or adesktop computer. User terminal 100 can communicate with catalogueserver 102 in order to browse and download available applications. Thecommunication medium used for communications between the user terminal100 and catalogue server 102 depends on the capabilities of the userterminal 100. For example, the user terminal 100 may communicate withnetwork entities such as catalogue server 102 via an internet connectionusing a packet-based communication protocol such as the HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTP). If user terminal 100 is a wireless device, theuser terminal 100 may communicate with network entities via a mobiletelephony network, for example using a cellular radio link, or via otherradio access networks, for example using a WiFi or WiMax radio link.

The user of the user terminal 100 is identified to the catalogue server102 by user identification data. The user identification data maycomprise a separately assigned user identifier, for example an emailaddress associated with the user, a Mobile Subscriber IntegratedServices Digital Network Number (MSISDN) associated with the user, orother identification data which is unique to an individual user. Theuser identification data can also, or alternatively, comprise a useridentifier in the form of, for example, a unique code assigned by thecatalogue server 102 itself.

Catalogue server 102 may be a single computing device or a cluster ofdevices, at a single network node or distributed in different networklocations, and may be embodied in a single device, or over a number ofdistributed devices. Catalogue data store 104 includes a database whichcontains database entries for a number of different downloadable andinstallable software applications. The database may also store metadataassociated with each application, such as a title, and short/longdescription of the intended function of the application. Catalogue datastore 104 may be co-located with catalogue server 102, or alternativelymay comprise a separate physical device in a same or different computernetwork.

The catalogue server 102, when configured according to the embodimentsof the invention, provides an application distribution system suitablefor use by enterprise networks in particular. The catalogue server 102maintains installation control settings corresponding to users andapplications that are made available for possible download to enterpriseuser terminals 100. These installation control settings are for use indetermining installation control data for such applications, asexplained at a high level with reference to FIG. 2, which illustratestwo exemplary database entries held in catalogue data store 104. As canbe seen, application identifier (AppID) 200 identifies the applicationto which the database entry relates, while the user identifier (UserID)202 identifies the user to which the database entry relates. TheInstallation Control Setting 204 defines the intended relationshipbetween the corresponding application identified by AppID 200, andcorresponding user identified by UserID 202.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of the operation of a control settingdetermination method according to some embodiments. When determininginstallation of applications for a given user, the catalogue server 102retrieves, from the data store 104 a first installation control settingassociated with a first application 206 associated with the user and asecond installation control setting associated a second application 208associated with the user, using user identification data such as e.g. aMSISDN at steps 1802 and 1804 respectively.

At step 1806, the catalogue server 102 determines installation controldata for one or both of the first and second applications 206, 208 onthe basis of at least the retrieved first and second installationcontrol settings. At step 1808, the catalogue server 102 transmits aninstallation control message comprising the determined installationcontrol data to a user terminal to control installation of at least oneof the first and second applications 206, 208 thereon.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the installation control settings are“ALLOW” and “DENY” for the first and second applications 206, 208respectively. The catalogue server 102 thus determines that the firstapplication 206 can be installed, while the second application 208cannot, and creates installation control data accordingly. This enablesinstallation control data to be determined in view of previouslyspecified permissions data and provides a mechanism for collectivelycontrolling installation and/or persistence of two or more individualapplications. As will be appreciated, collective installation controlmay be beneficial in preventing installation of incompatibleapplications.

Any given application may have more than one installation controlsetting, each having been configured by a different entity. For example,for any given application, there may be one installation control settingfor users that are members of an enterprise network, anotherinstallation control setting specifically configured for a given user,and/or other installation control settings configured by differententities, such as enterprise network, an application developer and anapplication provider.

Each installation control setting may be accessible, and configurable,by an entity having an administrative control role with respect to agiven application. Each entity having an administrative control role maybe given access to the catalogue server 102 via a control interfaceprovided on the catalogue server 102, for example in the form of a webinterface or an application programming interface (API) which allows anadministrator access to the settings stored in the catalogue data store104 from a remote terminal connected to the catalogue server 102 via adata communications network. An administrative control role provides alevel of administrative control over the entitlement of users to installand run applications that is extended to particular individuals orentities associated with the administrative control role.

The entities corresponding to the administrative control roles may be ofdifferent types, some of which are illustrated in FIG. 4. For example anenterprise administrator 1501 may have an administrative control role,of an enterprise administrator type, which controls which applicationsmay be installed and run on devices associated with its users. A networkoperator (or carrier) administrator 1504 may have an administrativecontrol role, of a network operator administrator type, which controlswhich applications may be installed and run on devices to which itprovides communication services. A software developer administrator mayhave an administrative control role, of a software developeradministrator type, which controls which users may install and run theapplications which it develops. An independent software vendor (ISV)administrator 1502 may have an administrative control role, of an ISVadministrator type, which controls which users may install and run theapplications which it sells. Further, the entity 1505 which maintainsthe installation control system itself may have an administrativecontrol role, of an installation control system administrator type,which controls which applications may be installed and run all devicesacross the whole, or parts of the, installation control system. Inaddition, an equipment manufacturer administrator 1503 may have anadministrative control role, of an equipment manufacturer administratortype, which controls which users may install and run the applications ondevices manufactured thereby. It will be appreciated that there may beother types of administrative control roles.

The administrative control entities, via terminals 1501, 1502, 1503,1504 or 1505, may configure installation control settings bycommunicating directly with the catalogue server 102. Theseadministrative control terminals may communicate with the catalogueserver 102 via the internet once they have provided suitable credentialssuch as a username and password in order to verify their identity to thecatalogue server 102, and thereafter create and/or modify their set ofinstallation control settings.

Returning to FIG. 2, in this example it is assumed that database entry206 results from configuration by a particular administrative controlentity 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504 or 1505 to indicate that a user terminalassociated with User A should be allowed access to a given application(Application A). Database entry 208 results from configuration byanother administrative control entity 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504 or 1505 toindicate that a user terminal associated with the same user, User A,should be denied access to a different application (Application B).

Several installation control settings may be used with the installationcontrol system. A DENY setting indicates that installation of anapplication should not be allowed for the corresponding user, and if theapplication is already installed, the application should be deleted. ASUSPEND setting indicates that installation of an application should notbe allowed for the corresponding user, and if the application is alreadyinstalled, the application should be suspended, but not deleted. ACONTINUE setting indicates that installation of an application shouldnot be allowed for the corresponding user, but if the application isalready installed, continuing use of the installed application should beallowed. A FORCE setting indicates that installation of an applicationshould be mandatory for the corresponding user. An ALLOW settingindicates installation of an application be allowed for thecorresponding user, but should occur at the initiation of the user. ADEFAULT setting represents an initially undefined setting, which ispresent before an administrative control role has set the installationcontrol setting to a different setting. It should be noted that thesesettings are exemplary options for installation control settings, andthat any two or more of these different settings, or indeed othersettings, may be used to implement an installation control system.

As described previously, there may be more than one administrativecontrol role capable of influencing the relationship between a givenapplication and a given user. In order to reflect this, eachadministrative control role may configure their own set of installationcontrol settings.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative example of two different sets ofinstallation control settings according to some embodiments of theinstallation control system, each associated with a differentadministrative control role. Table 300 shows the set of installationcontrol settings associated with Administrative Control Role A.Administrative Control Role A configures Installation Control Settings A306, which indicate the desired installation control settings for anumber of applications 302 and a number of users 304 associated withthat administrative control role. Similarly, Table 320 shows the set ofinstallation control settings associated with Administrative ControlRole B. Administrative Control Role B configures Installation ControlSettings B 326, which indicate the desired installation control settingsfor a number of applications 322 and a number of users 324 associatedwith that administrative control role.

Under these circumstances, two or more administrative control roles mayconfigure different installation control settings for the same user andapplication. To resolve such discrepancies, some embodiments include aninstallation control system conflict resolution algorithm to determinehow the relationship between a given user and a given application shouldbe resolved. In alternative embodiments, the settings are initiallycontrolled such that no conflict is possible, and rather than using aconflict resolution algorithm, a multiple setting resolution algorithmis used—e.g. one administrative role is given precedence. The result ofthe resolution algorithm is installation control data, which defines theresulting installation configuration for a given user in relation to oneor more given applications. The installation control data may be storedin the catalogue data store 104 for later reference, or generated asrequired, transmitted, and then discarded.

A conflict resolution algorithm used in some embodiments identifies amore restrictive installation control setting among those configured bythe relevant administrative control roles to determine the correspondinginstallation control data. In order to utilize this arrangement, thevarious options for installation control settings may be ordered, forexample in terms of their restrictiveness, which is then stored as apredetermined ordering rule used in the algorithm. To use the exampleinstallation control settings given above, the order of increasingrestrictiveness may be DEFAULT, ALLOW, FORCE, CONTINUE, SUSPEND, DENY.

The catalogue data store database entries shown in FIG. 5 forApplication A will now be used as examples of the operation of thisconflict resolution algorithm. With regard to User A, bothadministrative control roles have configured installation controlsettings (a first set of installation control settings, InstallationControl Settings A; a second set of installation control settings,Installation Control Settings B) to indicate that User A should beallowed to install Application A, and hence there is no conflict and theresulting installation control data indicates that User A should beallowed to install Application A.

For User B, one administrative control role has configured theirinstallation control setting to indicate that User B should be allowedto install Application A, and the other administrative control role hasconfigured their installation control setting to indicate that User Bshould be forced to install Application A. Under this conflict, theFORCE setting is more restrictive than the ALLOW setting, and hence theresulting installation control data indicates that User B should beforced to install Application A.

For User C, one administrative control role has configured theirinstallation control setting to indicate that User C should be allowedto continue to use Application A, but only if already installed, and theother administrative control role has configured their installationcontrol setting to indicate that User C should have access toApplication A suspended if already installed. Under this conflict, theSUSPEND setting is more restrictive than the CONTINUE setting, and hencethe resulting installation control data indicates that access toApplication A should be suspended for User C.

For User D, one administrative control role has configured theirinstallation control setting to indicate that User D should be forced toinstall Application A, and the other administrative control role hasconfigured their installation control setting to indicate that User Cshould be denied access to Application A. Under this conflict, the DENYsetting is more restrictive than the FORCE setting, and hence theresulting installation control data indicates that User D should bedenied access to Application A.

For User E, one administrative control role has configured theirinstallation control setting to indicate that User E should be allowedto install Application A, and the other administrative control role hasconfigured their installation control setting to indicate no preferencein the relationship between User E and Application A. Under thisconflict, the ALLOW setting is more restrictive than the DEFAULTsetting, and hence the resulting installation control data indicatesthat User D should be allowed access to Application A.

With respect to Application B, FIG. 5 shows a case where bothadministrative control roles have not yet configured installationcontrol settings for the user in relation to the application. Underthese circumstances, the conflict resolution algorithm may yieldinstallation control data which does not correspond to one of theindividual installation control settings, but rather may be treated asan exception. The resulting installation control data in this specialcase may indicate that access to Application B should be denied, as nolevel of access has been explicitly indicated by either administrativecontrol role.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of the operation of a control settingconflict resolution algorithm according to some embodiments. Theconflict resolution algorithm described in FIG. 6 is used to generateinstallation control data for a given application and a given user,based on installation control settings configured by two administrativecontrol roles, which installation control settings may potentiallyconflict.

The process is started at step 400 by passing the relevant UserID andAppID parameters. The algorithm continues by identifying the relevantinstallation control settings associated with the first and secondadministrative control roles at steps 402 and 404 respectively. Theinstallation control settings are identified from the sets ofinstallation control settings associated with each administrativecontrol role (e.g. as shown in FIG. 4) on the basis of the UserID andAppID parameters.

At step 406, the algorithm identifies a most restrictive installationcontrol setting amongst the installation control settings for a user.This could be determined by accessing each of the applicableinstallation control settings as described previously, and selecting themost restrictive. At step 408 a check is carried out to establishwhether the most restrictive installation control setting determined atstep 406 is a default setting. If the check is negative (410), thedetermined most restrictive installation control setting is used togenerate the installation control data at step 412, and the algorithmcompletes at step 414. However, if the check performed at step 408 ispositive (416), the algorithm uses DENY as the setting to generate theinstallation control data at step 418 instead of the setting determinedat step 406, and the algorithm completes at step 414.

In order to determine the appropriate installation control settings toreference for the given user and application, the conflict resolutionalgorithm may search the catalogue data store 104 for database entriesthat correspond to that user and application. According to alternativeembodiments, the algorithm may reference further data stored in thecatalogue data store 104 to determine which administrative control rolesare associated with a given user (for example, by virtue of being thatuser's service provider or associated enterprise), and identifyappropriate installation control settings by referencing databaseentries associated with the listed administrative control roles.

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary entries from the catalogue data store 104which may be used to identify the administrative control rolesassociated with a given UserID 500. The table in FIG. 7 identifies twoadministrator identifiers (AdminIDs) corresponding to two differenttypes of administrative control role, Admin1ID 502 and Admin2ID 504. Thefirst administrative control role type may, for example, allow anauthorized administrator, on the presentation of a first set ofcredentials, to represent the enterprise the given user belongs to, andthe second administrative control role type may, for example, allow asuitably authorized administrator, on presentation of a different,second set of credentials, to represent the network operator whichprovides service to that user.

The conflict resolution algorithm described in FIG. 6 can be expanded toinclude installation control settings set by more than twoadministrative control roles by including additional identifying stepssimilar to step 404 for third, fourth or fifth, etc. administrativecontrol roles.

As well as configuring installation control settings individually for auser, an administrative control role may also define a user as beingpart of a group of users, to which installation control settings can beconfigured as a whole. The groups may be defined on the basis of acommon grouping characteristic. For example, an enterprise may wish toconfigure installation control settings based on each user's role withinthe enterprise (e.g. every employee in the sales team, or everyoneemployed in the accounts department).

An administrative control role may also wish to configure aninstallation control setting that corresponds to all users associatedwith that administrative control role. For example, an enterprise maywish to configure an installation control setting for a givenapplication that applies to all of its employees, or a network operatormay wish to configure an installation control setting for a givenapplication that applies to all of its subscribers. In this way ispossible to define a base installation control setting that applies toall users.

Under these circumstances, an administrative control role may configureseveral different installation control settings which all influence theinstallation controls for a given user in relation to a givenapplication. For example a user may have an individual entry, a relevantgroup entry and an “all users” entry set by a single administrativecontrol role, and all relating to the same application. Hence, adecision must be made as to which installation control setting to usefor determining the installation control data. In embodiments of theinstallation control system, the conflict resolution algorithm isexpanded to select among a plurality of installation control settingsconfigured by an administrative control role when those settings relateto the same user and the same application. An exemplary method for doingso involves selecting an installation control setting on the basis of aprecedence order. For example, an entry for an individual may takeprecedence over the relevant group entry, which in turn may takeprecedence over the “all users” entry set. Alternatively oradditionally, a most restrictive installation control setting from theseveral different installation control settings may be selected.

FIG. 8 illustrates exemplary catalogue data store entries configured bya particular administrative control role which has configuredinstallation control settings 604 that indicate a relationship between agiven AppID 600, and a given UserID 602, wherein the UserIDs 602represent either individual users, groups of users, and all usersassociated with that administrative control role. In this example, UserA is part of Group A, User B is part of Group B, and both User A andUser B are associated with the All Users group.

With regard to User A, the administrative control role has defined anindividual installation control setting 604 to indicate that User Ashould be allowed to install Application A, but has also configured aninstallation control setting 604 to indicate that users in Group Ashould be forced to install Application A. Under this conflict, theFORCE setting is more restrictive than the ALLOW setting and the DEFAULTsetting, and hence the relevant installation control setting from thisadministrative control role to be used when determining the installationcontrol data is FORCE.

With regard to User B, the administrative control role has defined anindividual installation control setting 604 to indicate that User Bshould be denied access to Application A, but has also configured aninstallation control setting 604 to indicate that users in Group Bshould be allowed to install Application A. Under this conflict, theDENY setting is more restrictive than the ALLOW setting and the DEFAULTsetting, and hence the relevant installation control setting from thisadministrative control role to be used when determining the installationcontrol data is DENY.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of the additional functionality of aconflict resolution algorithm over that of the algorithm depicted inFIG. 6. The functionality described in FIG. 9 is used to determine theappropriate installation control setting to be considered for aparticular administrative control role when determining the installationcontrol data for a given application and user.

The process is started at step 700 by passing the relevant UserID, AppIDand AdminID parameters. The process continues by identifying among theentries in the catalogue data store 104 associated with the relevantadministrative control role, an installation control setting associatedwith the given application and the individual user at step 702. At step704, the process determines whether the user is a member of any groupsassociated with the given administrative control role. If one or moregroups are identified for which the user is a member (706), the processgoes on to identify any installation control setting associated with thegiven application and those groups at step 708. If no groups aredetected for which the user is a member 710, the process continues atstep 712, by identifying any installation control setting configured bythe administrative control role that applies to all users associatedwith that administrative control role.

Once all relevant installation control settings have been identified,the selection of the appropriate setting to use occurs at step 714, bydetermining the most restrictive amongst the identified installationcontrol settings. The determined setting is then returned in step 716,and the process terminates at step 718.

According to some embodiments, a fallback installation control settingmay be configured by an administrative control role for all, or a set ofusers, to be used if a more specific installation control setting hasnot been configured (e.g. those for the individual user or a group ofwhich they are a member). In these embodiments, the fallbackinstallation control setting may be used only if all other installationcontrol settings relating to the given user and application are in thedefault setting.

FIG. 10 shows a modification to the process of FIG. 9, according to afurther embodiment. The process is started at step 800 by passing therelevant UserID, AppID and AdminID parameters. The process continues byidentifying among the entries in the catalogue data store 104 associatedwith the relevant administrative control role, the installation controlsetting associated with the given application and the individual user atstep 802. At step 804, the process determines whether the user is amember of any groups associated with the given administrative controlrole. If one or more groups are identified for which the user is amember (806), the process goes on to identify any installation controlsetting associated with the given application and those groups at step808, otherwise (810) the process continues directly to step 812.

The process continues at step 812, by determining the most restrictiveamongst the identified installation control settings. The determinedsetting is checked at step 814 to identify whether the determinedsetting is a default setting, and if not (816) the process returns thedetermined installation control setting at step 818 and the processterminates at step 820. However, if the determined setting is a defaultsetting (822), the process identifies and returns the fallbackinstallation control setting for the user and the given application instep 824, and the process terminates at step 820.

The installation control data may comprise the selected or determinedinstallation control setting(s), in substantially identical form to thesettings stored in the catalogue data store 104, and/or may include dataderived from the selected or determined setting(s). The installationcontrol data is, in some embodiments, transmitted by the catalogueserver 102 during interactions between a user terminal 100 and thecatalogue server 102. It may thus be included in an installation controlmessage transmitted to the user terminal 100. Alternatively, or inaddition, it may be transmitted by the catalogue server 102 duringinteractions between an application repository and the catalogue server102. It may thus be included in an installation control messagetransmitted to the application repository to enable the applicationrepository to determine a response to a request for an application froma user terminal.

The installation control data may be used in the process of viewing aselection of applications available to download and install on the userterminal, and indeed may be used in the process of downloadingapplications to install on the user terminal. The installation controldata may be used to determine download conditions, for example toprevent download of an application to which a user is not entitled, thuspreventing its installation and performing installation control in thatmanner. Alternatively, or in addition, the installation control data maybe used to determine installation conditions, which may be sent inconjunction with a downloaded application. These installation conditionsmay for example enforce installation control settings on the userterminal, for example a forced upgrade of an installed application.Applications may be installed by downloading and executing applicationinstallation files, which are typically stored as packages.

According to some embodiments, the application installation packages arestored in the application repository. The application repository may becomprised within the same physical storage hardware as the cataloguedata store 104, or alternatively it may be held elsewhere. According tosome embodiments, application installation packages may be stored onhardware external to the installation control system, for example on anenterprise server, which allows the installation packages to be heldunder the control of that enterprise, and not under the control of theinstallation control system operator.

As described in the background section, conventional applicationdistribution systems restrict the browsing of available applications touser terminals. By contrast, the architecture of the catalogue server102 is arranged in such a way that it provides a channel for exposingapplications that been developed by e.g. an independent software vendor,to an administrative control entity 1501 of an enterprise network. As aresult, the IT and policy administrators of the enterprise can reviewthese available applications and configure additional (overriding)installation control settings for these available applications andcontrol settings for their own enterprise applications, taking accountof these third party applications.

Such third party application providers may indicate which of theirapplications are suitable for a given enterprise, and applicationsuitability information may be maintained in a table maintained by thedata store 104, as illustrated by table 1600 in FIG. 11, where ProviderA considers applications A, B and C to be suitable for Enterprise A andapplications A, D and E to be suitable for Enterprise B.

Alternatively or additionally, third party application providers mayindicate which of their applications are unsuitable for a givenenterprise, and thereby control which applications are exposed to whichenterprises. For example, per the above example, instead of indicatingthat Applications A, B and C are suitable for Enterprise A, Provider Acould instead indicate that Applications D and E are unsuitable for thisenterprise, thereby ensuring that Applications D and E are not exposedto Enterprise A. Application unsuitability information may be maintainedin a table maintained by the data store 104.

Notwithstanding the above, third party application providers mayalternatively or additionally be restricted as regards which theenterprises to which they are able to expose their applications. Thiscould be enforced via associations between application providers andenterprises. Without limitation, such association could be formed on thebasis of a prior transaction, e.g. a third party application providerhas previously supplied applications to an enterprise, or it could beformed on the basis of a mutual agreement. Mutual agreements could beestablished for a predefined period of time, such as a week, or for apredefined number or type of applications, and may need to bere-established upon expiry. Mutual agreements concerning an enterprisemay be authorized by its corresponding administrative control function1501 or they may be authorized by a trusted entity, such as theadministrative control function 1505 corresponding to the installationcontrol system, on its behalf. In use, prior to publishing applicationsfrom a third party application provider, the installation control systemwould determine those enterprises with which the application providerhas an association and indeed the nature of the association, andconsequentially limit publication accordingly. It will be understoodthat associations between third party application providers andenterprises are likely to change over a period of time; as a consequencethe channel for exposing applications to a given enterprise may beupdated periodically or prior to every use. Association information maybe maintained in a table maintained by the data store 104.

Third party application providers may also identify applications fordifferent uses by users of enterprise networks via settings such as“demo” or “trial”. For example, turning to FIG. 12, table 1700 indicatesthat Application A is available in ‘Demo’ mode for various groups ofusers, within different enterprises, and indicates that Application B is“Allowed” for a group of users in a particular enterprise only. Oncethis information is available from the application provider, theenterprise administrative control entity 1501 is able to configureinstallation control setting B, with the knowledge of the type ofapplications. For example, in one arrangement the control settingspecified by the enterprise for Application A may restrict deployment aspecific and specified group, such as ‘trial group’, within theenterprise as illustrated in table 1720 of FIG. 12. In arrangements inwhich the enterprise control settings override those of other entities,this means that Application A will be allowed to be downloaded by onlyto this trial group within enterprise A, rather than, as is specified bythe control setting and user identification information specified by theapplication developer, everyone in enterprise A.

Thus, the catalogue system 102 additionally enables applicationproviders to efficiently expose their applications to enterprisenetworks, which can evaluate and take account of the applications andspecify appropriate installation control settings to enable e.g. trialsof applications within a controlled environment.

FIG. 13 is a message flow diagram illustrating a process whereby a usermay view a selection of available applications, and select and installan application on a user terminal according to some embodiments of theinstallation control system. The message flow starts with user terminal100 sending an application list request message 902 to catalogue server102. Application list request message 902 contains a user identifier bywhich the catalogue server 102 may identify the user associated withuser terminal 100. On the basis of the user identifier obtained fromapplication list request message 902, catalogue server 102 sends a querymessage 904 to catalogue data store 104 in order to obtain the necessaryinstallation control data associated with the identified user, and thecatalogue data store responds with query response message 906.

The installation control data for the identified user may bepre-computed prior to the start of the message flow or it may becomputed on demand in response to receiving the application list requestmessage 902, in both of these cases query response message 906 comprisesthe necessary installation control data. According to alternativeembodiments, the installation control data may be computed on the userterminal 100, in which case query response message 906 contains thenecessary installation control settings required to compute theinstallation control data.

On the basis of the installation control data, a list of applicationsthat the user terminal 100 is entitled to download and install may begenerated. For example, the application list may contain references toall applications for which the corresponding application control datafor the given user is set to ALLOW. According to some embodiments, theapplication list may also be pre-computed prior to the start of themessage flow, and stored in catalogue data store 104, in which casequery response message 906 may contain the application list for theidentified user terminal as part of the installation control data.

Having obtained the application list, application list message 908 istransmitted to user terminal 100. The application list message 908 mayfor example include the AppID for each listed application, along withsome metadata for each application, such as title and a briefdescription. In the case that the list contains a large number ofapplications, application list message 908 may contain information foronly a subset of the listed applications, wherein information forfurther listed applications may be obtained by sending a modifiedapplication list request message from user terminal 100.

On the basis of the received application list message 908, user terminal100 may present a list of the applications to the user, from which theuser can browse and select a desired application for which they which toview complete metadata. Selection of a desired application by the userresults in a metadata request message 910, containing the AppID of theselected application, being sent to catalogue server 102. In response toreceipt of metadata request message 910, the catalogue server 102 sendsmetadata query 912 comprising the received AppID to catalogue data store104, which responds with requested metadata 914. Catalogue server 102sends the requested metadata to user terminal 100 as part of metadatamessage 916, which user terminal 100 then presents to the user in orderto aid the user in deciding whether or not to download and install theapplication.

If the user indicates that they wish to install the application, forexample by pressing a button on user terminal 100, application requestmessage 918 is sent to catalogue server 102. Application request message918 contains the AppID of the desired application, which catalogueserver 102 may optionally use to verify for a second time that the usershould be allowed to install the corresponding application, which isdone on the basis of the installation control settings for the user inrelation to the application as described above. Catalogue server 102then fetches the application installation package from applicationrepository 900, by sending get application message 920. Applicationrepository 900 responds with the requested application installationpackage 922, which is passed by catalogue server to user terminal 100 inapplication message 924. According to alternative embodiments, theapplication repository may send the application installation packagedirectly to user terminal 100, in order to avoid the applicationinstallation package passing through the catalogue server (for reasonsdescribed above).

According to some embodiments, selection of an application from theapplication list may represent an intention to install that application,in which case the step of requesting complete metadata for anapplication may be skipped, and messages 910 to 916 are removed from themessage flow.

FIG. 14 is a message flow diagram illustrating an alternative method forinitiating installation of an application on a user terminal. In FIG.14, user terminal 100 sends application request message 1002 tocatalogue server 102 without first requesting an application list fromthe catalogue server 102. Application request message 1002 contains theuser identifier parameter associated with the user, and the applicationidentifier for the requested application. Catalogue server 102 thensends query 1004 to catalogue data store 104 to retrieve installationcontrol data 1006 corresponding to the given application and useridentifier parameters. On the basis of the retrieved installationcontrol data, catalogue server 102 may determine whether the userterminal 100 should be allowed access to the requested application. Ifthe retrieved installation control data indicates that user terminal 100should not be allowed access to the requested application, an accessdenied message (not shown) may be sent to user terminal 100 and themessage flow is terminated. However, if the retrieved installationcontrol data indicates that user terminal 100 should be allowed accessto the requested application, catalogue server 102 fetches theapplication installation package from application repository 900, bysending get application message 1008. Application repository 900responds with the requested application installation package 1010, whichis passed by catalogue server 102 to user terminal 100 in applicationmessage 1012.

In order to facilitate the installation of those applications to whichthe installation control data indicates that the user should be forcedto install the application, the catalogue server 102 may also transmit alist of mandatory applications. The user terminal 100 may then notifythe user of the mandatory applications which should be installed, andthe user may initiate the installation of the mandatory applicationsaccording to the message flows described above. However in order toensure the installation of the mandatory applications it may benecessary to also install client side software on the user terminal 100.When the user terminal connects to the catalogue server 102, for examplewhen downloading and viewing the application list, the mandatoryapplication list may be downloaded at the same time and reviewed by theclient side software. If the client side software identifies anyuninstalled mandatory applications, the client side software may handlethe download and installation of those applications according to themessage flows described above autonomously, perhaps without requiring orallowing interaction with the user.

Over time, the administrators representing different administrativecontrol roles may update some of their set of installation controlsettings stored in the catalogue data store 104, for example to reflectnewly released applications or new policies regarding which applicationsshould be installed on user devices.

An administrator 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504 or 1505 may modify one of theirset of installation control settings by sending an installation controlmodification message from their administrator terminal to the catalogueserver 102 containing the AppID, UserID and updated installation controlsetting. Having verified the identity of the administrator 1501, 1502,1503, 1504 or 1505, the catalogue server 102 may implement the update bymodifying the corresponding entry in the catalogue data store 104, oradding a new entry as appropriate. The updating of an installationcontrol setting by an administrator 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504 or 1505 of aparticular administrative control role may also cause the catalogueserver 102 to recalculate the associated installation control data, inresponse to the update.

According to alternative embodiments, an administrator 1501, 1502, 1503,1504 or 1505 may be able to modify the catalogue data store 104directly, in which case the catalogue server 102 may monitor thecatalogue data store 104 for updates in order to detect wheninstallation control data should be recalculated.

Having recalculated installation control data on the basis of theupdated installation control setting, the catalogue server 102 maynotify any users corresponding to the new installation control data ofthe change to the installation control data by sending an installationcontrol update message or the user terminal 100. This message could besent according to the methods discussed previously, or alternatively mayutilize a push notification channel. A push notification channel is analternative communication channel which is kept open between a serverand a client, which the server may use to inform the client that newdata is ready to be downloaded via the main communication channel. Thecatalogue server 102 may send push notifications directly to the userterminal 100, or may use a push proxy server to maintain the open pushnotification channel with the user terminal 100, and transmit pushnotification messages via the push proxy server. In this case, a pushnotification message may prompt the user terminal 100 to fetch theinstallation control update message via the standard communicationchannel.

The installation control update message may be received and interpretedby the client side software installed on the user terminal 100, whichcan carry out the necessary actions in order to enforce the newinstallation control data. For example, if the installation controlupdate message includes installation control data relating to aninstalled application, and the installation control data indicates thataccess to the installed application should be suspended or denied forthat user, then the client side software may initiate the suspension oruninstall that application. Further, if the installation control updatemessage includes installation control data for an application that isnot installed, and the installation control data indicates thatapplication should be force installed on that user terminal 100, thenthe client side software may initiate the installation of thatapplication according to the methods described above.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating the process ofhandling an updated installation control setting according toembodiments of the installation control system. The process starts atstep 1200, for example in response to receiving an installation controlupdate message from an administrative control role. An updatedinstallation control setting is detected at step 1202, and thecorresponding entry in the catalogue data store 104 is updated (orcreated if no entry already exists). At step 1204, the updatedinstallation control setting is used to recalculate the correspondinginstallation control data. At step 1206, the recalculated installationcontrol data is compared to the previous installation control data todetermine whether the updated installation control setting has had aneffect on the resulting installation control data. If the newinstallation control data is the same as the previous installationcontrol data (1208), the process terminates at step 1210. However, ifthe new installation control data is different from the previousinstallation control data (1212), the process goes on to identify alluser terminals 100 corresponding to the new installation control data atstep 1214. At step 1216, the catalogue server 102 sends an installationcontrol update message to the affected user terminals 100 in order toinform them of the change in installation control data.

In order to prevent the transmission of unnecessary installation controlupdate messages to a user terminal 100, the installation control systemmay maintain lists of installed applications for each user terminal 100,which may also be stored in the catalogue data store 104. By referencingsuch a list of installed applications, the catalogue server 102 mayfilter the installation control update messages sent to each userterminal 100 on the basis of which applications are known to beinstalled on that user terminal 100. For example, if the installationcontrol data for a given user and application is updated to indicatethat access to the application should now be suspended or denied forthat user, then an installation control update message only need be sentto the user if that application is known to be installed on acorresponding user terminal 100. Further if the installation controldata for a given user and application is updated to indicate thatinstallation of the application should now be forced for that user, thenan installation control update message only need be sent to the user ifthat application is known to not be installed on a corresponding userterminal 100.

According to some embodiments, in order to ensure that each list ofinstalled applications properly reflects the applications installed on agiven user terminal 100, the client side software installed on the userterminal 100 may be configured to send an application installed messagecontaining the relevant AppID parameter to the catalogue server 102 eachtime a new application is installed on the user terminal 100, and anapplication uninstalled message containing the relevant AppID parameterto the catalogue server 102 each time an application is uninstalled. Thecatalogue server 102 may then respond to the receipt of these messagesby editing the list of installed applications corresponding to that userterminal 100 in the catalogue data store 104.

It is possible that an administrative control role may update aninstallation control setting while the user device terminal 100associated with the corresponding user is unavailable. Under thesecircumstances, some embodiments of the installation control systemprovide a registration process, by which a user terminal 100 may beinformed of any updates to relevant installation control data thatoccurred while the device was unavailable. Such a registration processmay simultaneously register the user terminal 100 to receive subsequentinstallation control update messages, since the catalogue server 102 hasbeen informed that the user terminal 100 is once again available. Theregistering of the user terminal 100 to receive subsequent installationcontrol update messages may include the establishment of the pushnotification channel (if used).

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary message flow diagram for a registrationprocess and handling of an updated installation control settingaccording to some embodiments of the installation control system. At thestart of the message flow, user terminal 100 has just come online aftera temporary period of unavailability, and sends update subscriptionmessage 1302 to catalogue server 102, which contains the user identifierparameter associated with user terminal 100. In response to receivingupdate subscription message 1302, catalogue server 102 sends a query1304 to catalogue data store 104 to obtain a list of applications knownto be installed on user terminal 100 and corresponding installationcontrol data for those applications, as well as any applications forwhich the installation control data indicates that installation shouldbe forced on user terminal 100. The requested data 1306 is returned fromthe catalogue data store 104, and used to form installation controlregistration message 1308, which informs user terminal 100 of anychanges to relevant installation control data that may have occurredwhile the terminal 100 was unavailable. According to this message flow,it is assumed that no changes have been made.

Sometime later, catalogue server 102 receives an installation controlmodification message 1310 from administrator terminal 1300, whichcontains the relevant AppID, UserID and installation control settingparameters for the updated installation control setting. Administratorterminal 1300 may first be required to complete an authenticationprocedure (not shown) such as providing a valid username and passwordcombination, before installation control modification message 1310 isaccepted. On the basis of the received installation control modificationmessage 1310, catalogue server 102 updates the relevant entry incatalogue data store 104 via database update message 1312, and alsorecalculates any relevant installation control data on the basis of theupdated installation control setting. On the basis of the recalculatedinstallation control data, catalogue server 102 sends query message 1314to catalogue data store 104 in order to identify those users affected bythe recalculated installation control data, and a list of installedapplications for each identified user. The requested data 1316 isreturned from the catalogue data store 104, and used by catalogue server102 to generate installation control update message 1318. Installationcontrol update message 1318 contains the recalculated installationcontrol data for the relevant application, and may be sent to a numberof user terminals 100 affected by the recalculated installation controldata on the basis of whether the given application is installed on eachof those user terminals 100. Installation control update message 1318 issent to user terminal 100 as a result of that analysis.

In response to receiving the installation control update message, theclient side software installed on user terminal 100 executes thenecessary actions in order to enforce the new installation control data,by installing, suspending or uninstalling the relevant application asnecessary (according to the methods described previously). Once thenecessary action had been carried out, user terminal 100 informscatalogue server 102 of the installation/uninstallation by sendingapplication installed/uninstalled message 1320 which includes the AppIDof the relevant application. In response to receiving message 1320,catalogue server 102 updates the corresponding list of installedapplications for user terminal 100 stored in catalogue data store 104accordingly, by sending database update message 1322.

As well as maintaining installation control settings for eachapplication in the catalogue data store 104, some embodiments of theinstallation control system also maintain individual installationcontrol settings for each version of the available applications. Thisarrangement gives an administrative control role a finer level ofgranularity when deciding which applications a given user can installand configuring the corresponding installation control settings.According to these some embodiments, installation control data istherefore also calculated on a per version basis.

FIG. 17 illustrates a number of exemplary database entries according tosome embodiments of the installation control system. As well as UserID1404, each AppID 1400 also has a corresponding VersionID 1402 whichdescribes which version of the application the given installationcontrol setting 1406 relates to. By configuring different combinationsof these version-level installation control settings, some embodimentsof the installation control system allow certain special behaviors to beinvoked. Here it is assumed that all users have Version 1 of ApplicationA installed on their user terminal 100. The behaviors invoked by thedatabase entries set out in FIG. 15 are described below. It should benoted that installation control settings only represent the intentionsof a single administrative control role, and the intended results willonly be put into effect if the same combinations are reflected in thedetermined installation control data.

The database entries define that User A should be allowed to use theinstalled Version 1 of Application A, but that User A should beprevented from installing Version 2 of Application A. The result of thisis that the installation control settings indicate that User A should beprevented from upgrading to Version 2 of the application. This isparticularly useful in an enterprise environment, where the enterprise'sadministrative control role 1501 may wish to prevent its users fromupgrading to a new version of an application while they carry outcompatibility or security tests on the new application version. Asimilar effect can be achieved by configuring Version 1 to the CONTINUEor FORCE settings, and/or Version 2 to the SUSPEND setting.

The database entries define that User B should not be allowed to use theinstalled Version 1 of Application A, and that User B should be allowedto install Version 2 of Application A. The result of this is that theinstallation control settings 1406 indicate that User B should be forcedto upgrade to Version 2 of the application in order to continue usingit. This is particularly useful where an error may have been found inVersion 1 of the application that has been fixed in Version 2, and theadministrative control role wishes to prevent the user from experiencingthe error. A similar effect can be achieved by configuring Version 1 tothe DENY setting, and/or Version 2 to the CONTINUE or FORCE settings.

The database entries define that User C should be allowed to use theinstalled Version 1 of Application A, but that User C should be forcedto install Version 2 of Application A. The result of this is that theinstallation control settings 1406 indicate that User C should be forcedto upgrade to Version 2 of the application, thereby overriding theCONTINUE setting corresponding to version 1. A similar effect isachieved when Version 1 is configured to the CONTINUE setting.

The database entries define that User D should be allowed to continue touse the installed Version 1 of Application A, and that User D should beallowed to install Version 2 of Application A. The result of this isthat the installation control settings 1406 indicate that User B maycontinue to use Version 1, but may also upgrade to Version 2 of theapplication if desired. This is beneficial where an administrativecontrol role wishes to allow only those users who have already installedVersion 1 to continue using it, while forcing new users who wish toinstall the application to download Version 2.

The database entries define that User E should be allowed to use theinstalled Version 1 of Application A, and that User E should also beallowed to install Version 2 of Application A. The result of this isthat the installation control settings 1406 indicate that User E shouldbe free to decide whether to continue to use Version 1, or upgrade toVersion 2 of the application.

The database entries define that User F should be denied from using theinstalled Version 1 of Application A, and that User F should also bedenied from installing Version 2 of Application A. The result of this isthat the installation control settings 1406 indicate that User F shouldbe forced to uninstall the application.

Finally, database entries 1430 and 1432 define that User G should beforced to use the installed Version 1 of Application A, and that User Gshould also be forced to install Version 2 of Application A. This is aspecial case that appears to show conflicting installation controlsettings 1406. However, embodiments of the installation control systemcater for this situation by forcing the user terminal 100 to install themost recent version of the application. Hence, the result of thiscombination is that the installation control settings 1406 indicate thatUser G should be forced to upgrade to Version 2 of the application.

According to some embodiments, the catalogue data store 104 may alsomaintain entries for multiple different installation packages for agiven application or version, each suitable for different terminalhardware configurations, or languages etc. Under these embodiments, theinstallation control system may only offer applications to a userterminal 100 for which an appropriate package exists.

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary catalogue server102. As shown, the catalogue server 102 may comprise a processing module1903, a storing module 1904, a receiving module 1901 and a transmittingmodule 1902. The processing module 1903 may correspond at least in someaspects to, for example, a processor as discussed herein. The storingmodule 1904 may correspond at least in some aspects to, for example, amemory as discussed herein. The receiving module 1901 may correspond atleast in some aspects to, for example, a processor, a receiver and/or atransceiver as discussed herein. The transmitting module 1902 maycorrespond at least in some aspects to, for example, a processor, atransmitter and/or a transceiver as discussed herein.

The functionality of the modules of FIG. 18 may be implemented invarious ways consistent with the teachings herein. In some aspects thefunctionality of these modules may be implemented as one or moreelectrical components. In some aspects the functionality of these blocksmay be implemented as a processing system including one or moreprocessor components. In some aspects the functionality of these modulesmay be implemented using, for example, at least a portion of one or moreintegrated circuits (e.g., an ASIC). As discussed herein, an integratedcircuit may include a processor, software, other related components, orsome combination thereof. The functionality of these modules also may beimplemented in some other manner as taught herein.

For example, the modules may be implemented, at least in part, asprogram instructions for execution by a processor, as logic circuits, asan application specific integrated circuit, as firmware, etc. Forexample, the embodiments can be implemented as one or more software orfirmware applications, computer-implemented methods, program productsstored on a computer useable medium, for execution on one or moreprocessors (e.g., CPU, microcontroller) or other computing devices in awireless station.

More particularly, the catalogue server 102, catalogue data store 104and user terminal 100 of the above described embodiments may beconfigured to operate according to the above described embodiments byexecuting computer programs held in computer readable media.Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. A storage media may be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example,and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM,EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used tocarry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or datastructures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connectionis properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if thesoftware is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote sourceusing a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio,and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray™ disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Thus, in some aspects computer readable medium may comprisenon-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., tangible media). Inaddition, in some aspects computer readable medium may comprisetransitory computer readable medium (e.g., a signal). Combinations ofthe above should also be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia.

The above described embodiments are to be understood as illustrativeexamples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention areenvisaged. For example, the functions carried out by the catalogueserver 102 or the catalogue data store 104 may be equally performed bymultiple distributed hardware resources instead of the unitary hardwaredescribed above. It is to be understood that any feature described inrelation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination withother features described, and may also be used in combination with oneor more features of any other of the described embodiments, or anycombination of any other of the described embodiments. Furthermore,equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employedwithout departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined inthe accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal, the method comprising: accessing a data store, the data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and corresponding installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications; identifying, on the basis of user identification data associated with a user of the user terminal, a first installation control setting for a first application of the plurality of applications, wherein the first installation control setting is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal, and wherein the first installation control setting has a first precedence value; identifying, on the basis of the user identification data associated with the user of the user terminal, a second installation control setting for the first application, wherein the second installation control setting is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal, and wherein the second installation control setting has a second precedence value; selecting between the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting for the first application on the basis of a comparison of the first precedence value associated with the first installation control setting and the second precedence value associated with the second installation control setting; and transmitting an installation control message based on the selected installation control setting to the user terminal, wherein the installation control message is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first precedence value associated with the first installation control settings is associated with a first entity, and wherein the second precedence value associated with the second installation control settings is associated with a second entity.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first entity and the second entity are different from the user of the user terminal.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first entity or the second entity is an administrative entity.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first entity or the second entity is an administrative entity.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first installation control setting is associated with a first plurality of users, each of the first plurality of users having a first common grouping characteristic.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second installation control setting is associated with a second plurality of users, at least some of which are different to the first plurality of users, each of the second plurality of users having a second common grouping characteristic, different from the first common grouping characteristic.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting between the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting further comprises selecting a default installation control setting in the event that one of the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting comprises the default setting and the first precedence value and the second precedence value are equivalent.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting between the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting further comprises selecting whichever of the first installation control setting and the second installation setting results in a most restrictive installation control setting in the event that the first precedence value and the second precedence value are equivalent.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting each include at least one of: a setting allowing the user terminal to install an application; a setting denying the user terminal a right to install an application; a setting suspending access to an application if previously installed; a setting continuing access to an application if previously installed; a setting forcing the user terminal to install an application; and a default installation control setting.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the installation control message includes at least one of: a setting allowing the user terminal to install an application; a setting denying the user terminal a right to install an application; a setting suspending access to an application if previously installed; a setting continuing access to an application if previously installed; a setting forcing the user terminal to install an application; and a default installation control setting.
 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving an installation request message from the user terminal requesting access to the first application.
 13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitoring the data store for updates to the installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications; and identifying one or more updated installation control settings associated with one or more of the plurality of applications.
 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: maintaining a list of applications installed on the user terminal; comparing the one or more applications having updated installation control settings to the list of applications installed on the user terminal; and transmitting an installation control update message based on the one or more updated installation control settings if one or more of the applications having updated installation control settings is also installed on the user terminal.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the installation control update message is configured to cause access to one or more of the applications installed on the user terminal to be terminated on the user terminal.
 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data store comprises entries for a plurality of versions of one or more of the plurality of applications, and the first and second installation control settings comprise installation control settings associated with the plurality of versions.
 17. A system for controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal, the system comprising: a data store, the data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and corresponding installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications; and a processor communicatively coupled to the data store and configured to: access a data store, the data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and corresponding installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications; identify, on the basis of user identification data associated with a user of the user terminal, a first installation control setting for a first application of the plurality of applications, wherein the first installation control setting is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal, and wherein the first installation control setting has a first precedence value; identify, on the basis of the user identification data associated with the user of the user terminal, a second installation control setting for the first application, wherein the second installation control setting is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal, and wherein the second installation control setting has a second precedence value; select between the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting for the first application on the basis of a comparison of the first precedence value associated with the first installation control setting and the second precedence value associated with the second installation control setting; and transmit an installation control message based on the selected installation control setting to the user terminal, wherein the installation control message is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first precedence value associated with the first installation control settings is associated with a first entity, and wherein the second precedence value associated with the second installation control settings is associated with a second entity.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first entity and the second entity are different from the user of the user terminal.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first entity or the second entity is an administrative entity.
 21. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first entity or the second entity is an administrative entity.
 22. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor in a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal, the method comprising: accessing a data store, the data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and corresponding installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications; identifying, on the basis of user identification data associated with a user of the user terminal, a first installation control setting for a first application of the plurality of applications, wherein the first installation control setting is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal, and wherein the first installation control setting has a first precedence value; identifying, on the basis of the user identification data associated with the user of the user terminal, a second installation control setting for the first application, wherein the second installation control setting is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal, and wherein the second installation control setting has a second precedence value; selecting between the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting for the first application on the basis of a comparison of the first precedence value associated with the first installation control setting and the second precedence value associated with the second installation control setting; and transmitting an installation control message based on the selected installation control setting to the user terminal, wherein the installation control message is configured to control installation of the first application on the user terminal.
 23. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the first precedence value associated with the first installation control settings is associated with a first entity, and wherein the second precedence value associated with the second installation control settings is associated with a second entity.
 24. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first entity and the second entity are different from the user of the user terminal.
 25. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein at least one of the first entity or the second entity is an administrative entity.
 26. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises: monitoring the data store for updates to the installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications; and identifying one or more updated installation control settings associated with one or more of the plurality of applications.
 27. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises: maintaining a list of applications installed on the user terminal; comparing the one or more applications having updated installation control settings to the list of applications installed on the user terminal; and transmitting an installation control update message based on the one or more updated installation control settings if one or more of the applications having updated installation control settings is also installed on the user terminal. 